Jon Robert Howe is first last, and always a seeker of truth who is happy to share--an educator experienced in multimedia ways to make learning memorable. He has been in turns a newspaper photographer, radio news broadcaster, professional Santa Claus, actor, video producer, musical playwright, graphic and Internet designer, marketing executive and innovative blogger. In his computer classes, Jon loves to teach hungry students the presentation computer techniques that he is always polishing and using. He really enjoys leading church classes using his multimedia skills to not only keep his students awake--but more, to help make the lessons “stick” in the minds and hearts of his fellow students.
Such wonderful brotherly love is rare--but I feel it every time you invite me into your family's lives. My old Laramie Scoutmaster, Larry Parker, a professor of wool science, long since passed in Botswana giving of himself to that continent, much like you do, once taught us we should make close friendships with younger folks--like Ben, Cole, Noah and Jackson. He said that our older friends would move on to the spirit world...and we would be awfully lonely unless we worked to generate friendship among the young.
I've enjoyed knowing the Van Dam Family in the same way. Joe, their loving wild third child calls me Uncle Wizard Pal. I call him Cheetah Joe--lopsided trade in my favor.
Since Rosie and I haven't been blessed with grandchildren (yet), and she is virtually unable to leave the house with all the things going on with her knees, her tummy and her migrane headaches--she appreciates the pictures of my adventures without having to put up with all the details that cause her pain.
J. Wizard Claus 2010
Gloria Cottam, our across the street neighbor and a former teacher told me the other day that I had missed my calling, She said I should have been a teacher because the kids can feel I love them almost instantly. I thanked her- and looked back over nearly 30 years as Santa with the Osmonds and all the family parties. I've been polishing my techniques with surrogate grand kids all those years. My classroom has turned to be out a bit bigger, I think.
Another great friend, James Arrington, calls me the mystic Santa--for the times I've showed up at the window and thrilled his little son--and then was invited in to deliver on the mystical promise of that initial appearance.
Over the years I've developed a closetful of tricks and techniques that involve youngsters--I could likely get a job as an activity leader in an elementary school. We've developed the idea that If you don't have your own, adopt some-- grandkids!
Thanks for your note, Peter. Friendship in the Kingdom just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?. I'm glad you all enjoyed the pictures. For Rosie those pictures are a way out of the house to enjoy our friends--from a distance.
I love and appreciate you and all yours. Thank you for radiating the genuine love of the gospel to me and so many others!
Dear Doctors- When I came home after our visit, I noticed what appeared to be letters poking through my stomach. After your complete review of my delusion that I am, in fact, Santa Claus; and in light of your comments about the nature of the bottom of my front, I believe there are psychosomatic issues in play that could be disturbing in one so young (63).
I have carefully documented the condition here and hope that you will excuse the bad spray-on tan and my obvious surprise.
Naturally I don't plan to share this development with anyone but my closest family and friends and hope that they will keep my confidence. Any reference to: “My Father (or my friend) the Jello Man” could offend Bill Cosby!
What would you recommend so the letters don't show quite so prominently through my red and white Christmas in July Aloha shirt?
Scroll down for three exciting stage show snippits of Santa and his helpers.
This first wonderful ten minute YouTube production is based on my long-held conviction that everyone can BE a Santa. (Mothers around the world fulfill this conviction every Christmas Eve as Fathers are out doing last minute shopping, buying a tree or, at the Happy Howe House, playing Santa for families who need one.)
In 2008 this is how Broadwayj1 video taped the Indianapolis Symphony showcase of the annual performance of the Tap Dancing Santas featuring a "Santatizing" Machine in their "08 Yultide Celebration".
For years I've been the Intermission on tour with Marie Osmond's Magic of Christmas Show. Watch how Ann Hampton Callaway, the host of the symphony Yuletide program greets Santa and goes off stage for a costume change, likely a drink and other personal business. It's just about the way we've done it on stage across the country for more than 30 years.
You'll enjoy the terrific way they get her back on stage! Enjoy this marvelous of On-Stage Santa craft. Aaron Fuksa couldn't be a more jolly, musical Santa star of this segment.
Here's the lyrics of the Broadway version of this North Pole Anthem for your study and enjoyment. It is, for me, a most adequate mission statement for what we do in the cap and bells--at Christmas and for some, Year "Round!
Be a Santa, jolly Santa, happy Santa Give the world a merry Christmas Be Chris Cringle, bells will jingle What you bring will fill the world with joy
Come on and twink that twinkle, wrinkle your eyes Buckle your chins, bring out your bell Remember wink and giggle, wiggle your beard Keep up your grins, get out and sell the spell of all Noël Noël
Be a Santa, roly Santa, holy Santa Spread the word ‘A merry Christmas’ Be so jolly that with holly and by golly everyone will love you if you’ll be a Santa Clause
Grab your belly, then let go, shake like jelly too and throw (hahahahahaha hohohoho) a roar and bellow in the snow, like a mellow buffalo (hahahahahaha hohohohohoho)
Be a Santa, jolly Santa, happy Santa Give the world a merry Christmas Be Chris Cringle, bells will jingle What you bring will fill the world with joy
Come on and twink that twinkle, wrinkle your eyes Buckle your chins, bring out your bell Remember wink and giggle, wiggle your beard Keep up your grins, get out and sell the spell of all Noël Noël Be a Santa, jolly Santa, happy Santa Give the world a merry Christmas Be a Santa Clause
[Thanks to mandy ducroix for lyrics] http://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/subwaysareforsleeping/beasanta.htm JWC
This second very brief 1:14 clip of the Rockettes and Santa performing in Tulsa Oklahoma at the BOK center on December 22nd, 2008 (I think I see my niece, Lindsay Howe, from Sacramento, California in the auburn hair on the front line.)
Third and finally what appears to be a bootleg video of a Rockettes' Christmas show from 2005 that draws attention to another outstanding example of Santa Stage Craft--and brilliant full screen video clouds on a cold winter's night. YouTube is filled with these. Be patient with the awkward camera work. Eventually it smooths out for a good look at dancing and performance. (This is precisely what entertainment managers hope never happens--somebody in the audience with a home camera stealing their choreography and effects.) As a producer and performer, I'm glad for the great examples. Note the antler's at the end of the number.
For almost 77 years the Rockettes have perform for millions ! Troupe was started by Russell Markert in 1925 as the Missouri Rockets ! Samuel Roxy Rothafel brought the dancers to NY to perform at The Roxi Theatre & in 1932 the Company left with Rothafel to opened a show @ RCMH & the rest is Dance precision history .
Friday we're doing a live shot with the local CBS affiliate KUTV-TV channel 2 at from 4:45 to 8:00 AM to promote a Summer Santa promotion at the local franchise of Marble Slab Creamery.
It was originally conceived and the logistics handled by Mike Peer, Ower, President and CEO of MUNCHKINRADIO.COM in cooperation with the Utah Food Bank. As promotions go, it's a pretty standard co-op arrangement. A few things make it interesting (Link to Summer Santa Promotions)
Right now, lets talk about Santa Suits. I have several:
1. The Conventional American Santa Suit popularized by the Coke Ads--red velveteen tunic trimmed in white faux fur long enough to go to mid thigh; red velveteen pants (with very light parachute pants, surprizingly warm, but quick to wash and dry; Black boots adapted from a pair of ten dollar JC Penny boots, with real leather extensions and side zippers with 5 inch wide, white fur tops. The Red Santa Hat with an oversized white fur pom pom at the end of the triangular foldover finish the image on the outside.
We've invested more than $1,000 in this suit alone--but it is authentic down to the leather belt, Wrist Bells, Leather Bag, Colorful courderoy Prop and Toy Bags etc. (Santa's Costume & Prop Accessories)
2. Zork, Santa's Evil Twin Black & Scruffy Suit. We've had two really quality Santa Suits, had sewn by JoAnn Brown at The Costume Closet in Salt Lake City. The first one was dyed black when it was almost completely worn out to costume Wayne Osmond as Zork, Santa's Evil Twin on tour and in Branson Missouri at the Osmond Family Theater. A black wig and whiskers and outlandishly large sunglasses complete the outfit. Because he's the villain of the piece his boots are less stylish than Santa's. Cheap Wellingtons scuffed and dirty--with no fur on top worked for us.
My late, great friend Mel Peterson from Butte, Montana and his talented seamstress wife "willed" a Santa Suit she had sewed for her husband. (A friend in Montana built a plywood "sleigh" for a jeep-- and Santa Mel had a vehicle for outdoor visits in Christmastime Montana
We loaned that wonderful suit out to John Sabourin so many times we willed it on to him. (He is the Santa at the Hogle Zoo. It's payment in advance for helping us with our overloaded schedule now and again.
3. St. Nicholas' (Father Christmas ) Hooded Cape. A dear friend at work bragged to me one day during a break that she could sew anything. I always wanted a truly British "rig" Trouble is the "ideal" fabric she chose-- a rich, deep red upholstery material weighs quite a bit more than the light faux ribless courderoy that my classic Coke Santa tunic is made of. Of course once "built" it had to be lined! I've only worn it a few times--because Santa has to be pretty buff just to wear the silly thing. No wonder those English Father Christmas characters stoop and shuffle--their rig is way to heavy and thick for proper warmth. Carrying it alone is almost too much for an older man. I use it to good advantage by showing up for the "gig" in the Father Christmas hooded cape...and take it off to reveal #4.
4. Summer Santa Gear: Red and White Hybiscus Aloha Shirt and white canvas shorts with white tenny runners. This will be the costume on TV and in the promotion this coming Friday and Saturday.
I've dreamed for years of doing Santa Year round with a green velvet suit, maybe a matching green bowler and a flashy bright red satin tie-- doing promotions
We were at IKEA a couple of weeks ago, out in the parking lot after an hour of browsing the best Swedish gear they had to offer (especially the swedish meatballs). I was wearing a light longsleeve windowpane plaid shirt and my red parachute pants.
A guy and his wife from Idaho came were walking from their car in to the super store as we were coming out....and he shouted a ho Ho HO to me across the steaming pavement. It was a fellow Santa; a bearded chubby guy with a wife, who, like Gramma Rosie, no doubt booked his visits and shared in the process!
We had to stop and visit--and that gaggle of likely Santa's and Santa's helpers was too much for 6 year old Ryan just climbing into his family van. He tugged on his Mamma's shirt and whispered loud enough for us to overhear: "Look! It's HIM!"
It's a "buying signal" and before long I waddled over to his grocery cart and began the North Pole Charm Offensive: (Link to another post)
The mother gave me the key to the Summer Santa Outfit: "He saw your red pants!" That and the beard--'gave me away!" and I vowed then and there to pursue a life long dream: Year 'Round Santa (link to another post) I pulled out every red piece of clothing I had--and I only wear red in public...but for the Summer "gig" I had to have an Aloha Red and White Hibiscus Shirt. We researched them and found the best price on Amazon.com. If you've heard of the movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" with young star Amber Tamblin, you get the idea for the title of this blog: Live, from Tulsa: the 'Shuttling Summer Santa Shirts!"
The Internet is a wonderful thing for Sears Roebuck wannabes like Amazon--because once they have your electronic money, they can provide a report on the progress of the delivery of what ever you buy. Here's the tracking itinerary for my two Shuttling Shirts and some guessing on my part about what they did on the trip here:
Track your HAWAIIAN MEN'S CLASSIC FLOWER SHIRT
DateTimeLocationEvent Details
July 28, 201010:03:00 AMSalt Lake City UT USDelivered -- Hooray!
Four Hours to hang out at the UPS Station and get a quick nosh before showing up at our house!
July 28, 201006:20:00 AMSalt Lake City UT USArrival Scan
Half an hour for a Continental Breakfast
July 28, 2010 05:53:00 AM Salt Lake City UT US Out for delivery
July 28, 201005:53:00 AMSalt Lake City UT USArrival Scan
Five hours of Starlight Travel over the Rockies - What a view for two Shuttling Shirts
July 27, 201012:01:00 AMCommerce City CO USDeparture Scan
Spent the night in Colorado - How do you have fun in a warehouse for 8 hours?
July 26, 201004:01:00 PMCommerce City CO USArrival Scan
Hot, dusty travel over the Kansas praries - Thirsty work. Need a Pina Colada
July 26, 201007:11:00 AMSalina KS USDeparture Scan
Two hours for a Kansas Steak and Egg Breakfast - Big hot journey ahead!
July 26, 201004:54:00 AMSalina KS USArrival Scan
Quick Early Morning hop 'tween Wichita and Salina-- No Hot Sun!
July 26, 201002:59:00 AMWichita KS USDeparture Scan
Midnight sleep interrupted for two hours - no mileage just rearranging our package
July 26, 201012:48:00 AMWichita KS USArrival Scan
Wow--liberated for the road--late night snack -- Launch the Adventure
July 23, 201009:07:00 PMTulsa OK USDeparture Scan
Something Good is comin' --We're not on the shelf in the Tulsa warehouse any more!
July 23, 201007:09:00 PMTulsa OK USShipment received by carrier
We are ALIVE! From idea to order-- Hello, world, Amazon sent us
July 23, 201001:20:16 PMUSShipment has left seller facility and is in transit
The future?: A Space Age Santa Suit for delivery throughout the stars; a Buffalo Robe for a giant sleigh (that mounts on a van-- A Space Shuttle that is street legal and includes a Medicine Show-style stage on the back for park visits and outdoor Santa Parties year 'round! the fantasy list goes on and on.. For now, all the traffic and budget will allow is what we have planned and built over the last thirty years of "Elfing"! JWC
A good friend called with an idea for her son's business to do a Summer Santa promotion in cooperation with a new radio station in our area.
I was happy to help--and I don't plan to charge them a nickel! Oh, I'll make some money and build my business, using a technique that sounds a lot like a cushion shot in pool--indirectly.
Here's how it works.
1. BUILD EYE BALL TRAFFIC: I host four commercial blogs and our family communications MUSH fo' U for the Milo S. Howe Familoy Organization. I want to build "eyeball traffic" for these sites so everywhere I go shopping with Gramma Rosie, walking with Tim or "out and about" I find an excuse to gather e-mail addresses. I also find a reason to take a digital picture as a memory association trigger. These all go into my database and each one is a golden prospect--a present and future friend who may hire me to play Santa for a family party or company gathering--or they may become a follower and subscriber to Grampa Training or Teaching Moment Boosters. That depends on their responses to the first wave of e-mail.
2. MARKET WITH A TRIPLICATE OF CHOICE: Between now and Christmas, I begin the e-mail drum beat. The first message gives them a chance to:
a. Come Backstage at the North Pole (BNP) and all it's resources for parents and party hosts to get the most out of a Subordinate Claus. Just launched and building. I'll market it with at least 25-30 posts at the end of August of this year.
b. Take someGrampa in Training (GiT) for Already Grampas, Wannabes and the Grammas who love them. I've been developing this site all Summer and have published 140+ posts of wit and wisdom that will be a good Summer read--or a comfort in the Fall and coming Winter.
c. Pick up some Teaching Moment Boosters (Vitamin TMB) to be prepared to gently share insights in memorable ways (Lots of Object Lessons and little stories on themes)
The return on these marketing campaigns might seem disappointing to some, but if I get more than 1 or 2% it's a BIG Plus. Then I spreadsheet the prospects and build another list with variations on special offers according to preference. Making it possible to take their eyeballs through one of the sites is what it begins to be all about.
3. Pennys per click--and Bucks to Buy: Monetize and keep building. Encourage and train your eyeball traffic to explore everything about the blog they have chosen, especially in clicking the ads
4. Build lthe Reply per Response into a Community of Sharing Dialogue.
Marie and Me brushing up on blocking we never used--No matter!
Somebody said once that there are no Heros to Valets--expressing the idea that the closest associates of seemingly great public figures know many of the deepest, darkest secrets of their employer and seem to revere them, somehow less than they are "worshipped" in the world.
A dear friend of more than 20 years and I were on the phone for nearly two hours on Saturday morning when she asked me if Marie Osmond was as good as she seemed to be. I am proud to say as a fellow performer with Marie as Santa in several Network TV Christmas productions and dozens of concert visits over thirty years, I can say with no mental reservation---"YES! Marie is as terrific as her public image... and maybe even better." This is Provo Daily Herald Reporter Pat Christain's picture of a fourteen year old Marie with me as the Old Elf prior to our first ABC Network TV Presentaton of the Donny and Marie Show--(1974) I never washed that knee for months and months afterward.
Her recent rather public coping with a suicide son, a public divorce of her second husband and a potassium deficiency that landed her on the floor on the live broadcast of "Dancing with the Stars" have all intensified a wonderful private image that I hold so dear.
As a single mom (with a good deal of help) raising all of her kids alone, Marie juggles quite a load.
I believe she's better at business than her little brother Jimmy--a more talented singer and performer than any of her brothers including Donny--and a gutsy "broad" who enjoys a good laugh backstage with the crew--while still carrying more than her share of private griefs.
Evidence:
1. My First Meeting up Close in Battle Creek Michigan in 198? (Down to earth freadjustment of her bra as we planned "kid" stragegy. That one gesture cemented my insider status--signed the adoption papers where Marie was concerned.
2. Milwaukee Walkie Talkie moment with Finny in the theater basement with the Promoter. Marie came out of her dressing room to the light board where I was getting ready to announce the show and asked Alan Finlinson if he had a check yet from the promoter. Finny calmly reported, "Not yet." Marie with added emphasis said loud enough into the walkie talkie so the promoter could hear her--"You tell him for me that if he doesn't come across with the money in fifteen minutes, we load the busses and head off down the road!" Finn told me later the guy had put a loaded revolver on the desk and told him they needed to negotiate. After Marie's serious threat to make good, and the crowd pounding the floor with their feet shouting, We want the show", the promoter removed the pistol and slid a cashier's check for the entire amount owed across the little desk to Finn. He got on the walkie talkie and I announced, "And now, the Magic of Christmas, starring Marie Osmond!!!!! Jerry cranked up the band--and we were underway. The promoter, "took a bath!" He had tried to save money, running fewer radio and TV spots than Karl Engeman, Marie's manager had recommended--and ended up with half a house, egg on his face and a big debt. That night I located one of the little guys we had picked as a Santa-Target the previous year-- and got him on stage again! All this happened on December 9th, my birthday--with a cake and the Osmonds singing Happy Birthday to me at the 6:00 PM Dinner after the manner of the Russian, YO-oh, HEAVE, HO! Rosie sent assorted Hickory Farms treats to our hotel room! Heaven just don't get any better than that!
3. Backstage with all her children riding herd on the family.
4. Down a concourse with little Steven toughening up her son on the way home early the last morning of the tour
5. Sustaining her second husband inspite of inner fights and naysayers
6. Branson Other side of town at Mel Tillis Theater
7. Gracious, cool head with negative evidence from the KGB
8. Forgiveness for First Husband -- and a possible future (Update from Fall of 2011- Marie remarried Steve Craig after behind the scenes nudgings from their mutual son. Tabloid TV noted that Marie wore the same wedding dress she used the first time around. Husband and wife are reportedly doing much better, thanks!)
9. Real support for all her near and dear
10. Great love for her sweet Mom and Dad--and all the family
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